TacSat 1
| TacSat 1 | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Start date | February 9, 1969, 21:09 UTC |
| Launcher | Titan IIIC |
| Launch site | CC LC-41 |
| COSPAR-ID : | 1969-013A |
| Takeoff mass | 640 kg |
| Dimensions | 762 cm high; 281 cm in diameter |
| lifespan | 1,405 days |
| operator | United States Department of Defense |
| List of geostationary satellites | |
TacSat 1 (also TACOMSAT , English Tactical Communication Satellite ) was a communication test satellite of the US Department of Defense , which was developed under the direction of the USAF Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO). TacSat 1 was the largest communications satellite at the time of its launch. He should u. a. ensure communication between the Pentagon and US headquarters in Vietnam during the Vietnam War . Due to the high transmission power of the satellite, only very small antennas of 30 cm were necessary for the time. This allowed receiving systems to be carried B. also in vehicles or on ships.
construction
The cylindrical satellite had a height of 762 cm and a diameter of 281 cm, and a mass of 640 kg. It was spin stabilized with inertia wheels . The upper half consisted of a rod-shaped structure to which five helical antennas were attached. It was equipped with two transponders - one in the X band and one in the UHF band . The X-band transponder had a bandwidth of 10 MHz and a maximum output of 30 watts. The UHF transponders had a bandwidth of 10 MHz and a maximum output of 230 watts. The power supply for TacSat was provided by solar cells attached to the satellite body , which had an output of 980 watts.
mission
After a successful launch with a Titan IIIC launcher, TacSat 1 was placed in geostationary orbit over the Pacific. It was decommissioned on December 16, 1972 after the successful demonstration.
Individual evidence
- Herbert Pfaffe, Peter Stache: spacecraft. A type book , 1972
- ↑ Boeing: TacSat I. Boeing, archived from the original on 30 December 2009 ; accessed on January 3, 2014 .
- ↑ TACSAT Quicklook. JPL, accessed January 3, 2014 .